Our strategy
Supply chain sustainability
We partner with our customers and suppliers to raise the sustainability performance of the supply chain.
We convene the global supply chain, creating customized end-to-end supply chain and logistic solutions for global brands and retailers. We design, source and deliver a diverse range of products from a network of 10,000 factories in 50 production countries, to over 2,000 customers globally.
Our priority is to develop and operate responsible, sustainable and agile supply chains that meet the demands of a dynamic global retail sector while safeguarding and enhancing the lives of all those who are touched by it. We aim to make lives better for a billion people along the supply chain.
At CHARLOTTE GROUP we understand that building sustainable supply chains cannot be done alone. Therefore, we work with suppliers around the world and alongside industry partners to address the development challenges our industry faces.
You can also read more about our services and initiatives for suppliers in our Suppliers section.
Managing risk and compliance
We manage supply chain risk through a process of risk assessment and strategic decision making whereby we direct and develop business with suppliers who have greater capability and reduced risks, while supporting other suppliers to improve their performance.
Supplier risk assessment starts with CHARLOTTE GROUP’s Supplier Code of Conduct. 
This is our supplier
engagement document and it outlines the minimum standards required in accordance with the ILO’s Core Conventions, the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, the UK Modern Slavery Act and local laws, for human
and labor rights, safety, environment and security, as well as transparency and ethics. All suppliers must accept these minimum standards as a condition of doing business with us. You can learn more on the Supplier
section.
Compliance against the Code of Conduct is assessed by CHARLOTTE GROUP as well as external audit firms approved by us or our customers and/ or independent industry organizations. The audits may be unannounced, semi-announced or announced, depending on the requirements of our customers. Adding the capabilities and resources of our appointed third-party audit firms to our own has increased our visibility into our supply chain. At the same time, we are also establishing a stronger and more consistent methodology in our auditing program by regularly hosting joint training sessions with our third-party auditors.
Key elements of our factory engagement, monitoring and services are outlined below.
You can learn more about our rigorous risk assessment and management process in our Annual Report
.
Raising sustainability performance
We work with our customers, suppliers and industry partners to further sustainability by focusing on managing risk and improving performance in the supply chain, adopting standards and best practices, and providing sustainable design, manufacturing, product and packaging options.
Accelerating the adoption of virtual design and sampling into our sourcing processes is critical to transforming our supply chain to achieve our priorities of speed, innovation, and digitalization. Not only are these innovations helping us to share concepts, perfect designs, select materials and tweak product attributes quickly, we also avoid environmental impacts from travel and transportation and reduce wastage from sample and product production. We have introduced virtual design and sampling to key customers and look forward to expanding this innovative, effective and sustainable sourcing solution going forward.
Read about some of the ways we meet customer requests for sustainably-sourced materials and products with reduced environmental impact from well-managed factories.
Collaborating with industry
We recognize the power of collaboration to bring about change in the industry. We are involved in industry initiatives that bring our customers and industry partners together to effect change. Our collaboration efforts are focused on implementing programs that address the challenges of our industry and specific production countries where we operate.
We collaborate with our industry partners and implement a number of initiatives that aim to address specific health and safety, labor and environmental issues in the supply chain, as well as educate and empower workers, thereby creating a more socially-inclusive business, all with the aim of raising sustainability performance.
In 2016 we launched the CHARLOTTE GROUP Foundation with a mission to improve the lives of a billion people in the supply chain, you can visit the CHARLOTTE GROUP Foundation website to learn more about the work of our Foundation.